Binary prefixes system is an anolog to metric prefixes (SI), adjusted for the needs of computer science. Binary prefixes differ from related metric prefixes in the following ways:

There are no fractional (eg. mili, micro, nano, pico) prefixes, because those have no application in computer science. Smallest piece of information is one bit, which is indivisible.

Usage of binary base (number 1024 and its powers), instead of metric one (number 10 and its powers)

Despite the existence of binary prefixes, many people still use related SI prefixes, while they're thinking about binary ones. For example someone can say kilo-byte (SI prefix - kilo meaning 1000) bearing in mind 1024 bytes (which is really kebi-byte). Because poeple are rather reluctant to use new prefixes (kebi, mebi etc.), sometimes binary prefixes are called "death law".